Transfer case options

[Pele]

I'm shopping for a 1995-2003 Ford Diesel 4x4.

I'm noticing two options on transfer case operations. One is a lever on the floor to the right of the driver's seat. One is a switch on the dashboard.

Questions:

1.) Is the electronic version prone to failure? (I assume yes because I saw this type of failure in a early 2000's Explorer.

2.) Is there a year to year difference or a trim level difference that will indicate if it has the electronic or lever activated 4x4? Basically, I want to know if I can avoid it without having to look at every truck in the paper.

 

[Double-S-Diesel]

up till 99 all 250-350s Ive seen are manual.
from 99-02 floor shift was pretty much standard.
03 + had most all electronic, cant say Ive ever seen a 6.0 wiht a floor shifter.
most lariats were esof, but I have seen xlts with it, my 99 has it.
the hubs are a notorious bad link, they usally go bad and need replaced, usually with aftermarket.
the motors also do fail, but not common, and occasionally the fuse blows.
I wouldnt make a deal breaker over having esof.
But I do prefer my maunual stuff.

 

[zpd307]

my buddy has an 06 6.0 f350 cc lariat with floor shift 4x4...... my 03 lariat and 99 lariat had/have electronic shift 4x4.

 

[Pele]

Not gonna touch later than 2003, so that's a good thing...

Now I gotta go back through my listings and see, because I thought I saw a 7.3 with electronic.

 

[u2slow]

A shift lever is more robust, and also shifts on the fly.

I wouldn't say the electronic is failure-prone, but as with anything more complicated - more likely to fail than a simpler system. I have seen other transfer cases of this type wreck their internals because the shift motor wasn't finding it position properly.

I believe the electronic shift showed up optionally in very upscale models (XLT lariat) for 96 and 97

 

[OLDBULL8]

The electronic unit for the 4X4 cost $260 plus $100 for programming, at least that is what I was quoted. It's mounted behind the drivers side kick panel, and is subject to water leaks if the windshield leaks there. Mine wanted to shift unexpectedly, so I put a switch to disconnect the motor until I ready to use 4 wheel drive. So far so good.